Fertility and Nicotine: An Ugly Battle

Pregnancy is one of the best phases of any woman’s life, but if you have been trying to conceive for some time and haven’t been successful, it can be very stressful. You might be ready to have a baby and start a family, but your body doesn’t just follow your command. You will have to practice things which are known to boost fertility, and you will have to be persistent in your efforts. There are many dos and don’ts for when you’re trying to become pregnant. And out of all things that are bad for your fertility, smoking is the worst.

Infertility

Several studies over the years have proved that smoking lowers your chance of conceiving. Nicotine is known to lower the rate of maturation of a woman’s eggs, thereby lowering the ovulation rates—a fact backed by scientific research. The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago once conducted a research which showed abnormalities in the eggs of women who smoke. Research also proves that women who smoke take at least an extra two months to get pregnant than non-smokers. But delayed pregnancy is not the only problem. Smoking also increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy. In fact, the longer you smoke, the risk of fertility problems get higher.

In another study, the British Medical Association concluded that smokers have a whopping 40% lower chance of conceiving than women who do not smoke. But it’s not just about active smoking, because passive smoking can be just as harmful. It has been seen that women who smoke actively or passively suffer nearly 5000 miscarriages a year. Smoking also causes impotency in nearly 120,000 men aged between 30 and 50.

Nicotine and Infertility Treatment

If you want to opt for In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF, you will still need to watch your smoking habits to become pregnant. Non smokers have more egg retrieval with IVF than smokers. Another downside for those who smoke is that they have lower fertilization rates. Miscarriages with IVF pregnancies are also more common in women who smoke. According to a study, women who never smoked have a 2.7 times more chance of getting pregnant with In-Vitro Fertilization than those who smoke or used to smoke. Now aren’t these statistics scary? What’s more is that those who have been smoking for over 5 years have an even higher risk of failed pregnancies. IVF doesn’t just cost a lot of money and time, but is also very stressful for any woman. If you are resorting to IVF, it is best that you prepare your body and maintain it in healthy state before trying this treatment. If you want IVF to work for you, you need to get nicotine out of your system.

Nicotine and Men

Your IVF process may give you negative results if your partner smokes. While studies have proved this fact, the reason behind this is not yet clear. It might be the negative influence of nicotine on a man’s sperm, or something else—researchers aren’t certain. However, one thing’s for sure, if your partner smokes, the IVF is less likely to be successful.

Quit Smoking Today

You will be amazed to know how much a small change can do to your child-bearing ability. You will do yourself a huge favor if you decide to quit smoking. Here’s a fact that is sure to motivate you: one year from when you completely quit smoking, you will have equal chances of getting pregnant as a woman who never smoked in her life! So if you are smoking now, it isn’t too late. All you need to do is quit and increase your chances of conceiving in the long-term.

So boost your fertility and aim for a healthy pregnancy today. One lifestyle change will go a long way. Don’t let nicotine get in your way, quit smoking. Enroll for some form of nicotine therapy to combat withdrawal symptoms, gradually reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke until you completely quit and avoid situations that could cause a relapse. So say goodbye to smoking to prepare your body for a healthy pregnancy and protect your fertility naturally.